[Mustache]

I've been trying to think of ideas of how they could help themselves. The only thing I can think of is to use technology - camera's everywhere, body cams and tracking devices on vehicles and people. I know they aren't wealthy, but the town could put cameras on the streets like the do in London. I'm just brainstorming here... Such a sad situation they are in.

[HarryHirsch]

That worked really well for police misconduct this Summer. It's all on film, because they know they'll get away with it.

[Gustomaximus]

I've pondered on this and wonder if religion could be the answer. I say this as an atheist. But churches, typically already established well in these areas, could have the community structure combines with good social values and zeal/commitment, even fanaticism to see through what would likely be tough time initially to cleaning up areas.

Something along the lines of a Knights Templar where segment of a community devote themselves to the protection of people in the area. It might even give youth an alternative to avoid gangs as while jobs are scarce they can join a 'higher order' so have an alternative that provides purpose and a raise in self-status.

Note: I know nothing about these areas or problems really so approach this mental exercise from a position of ignorance and Hollywood.

[sam_goody]

To quote a speech I heard in college: "It frustrates me to no end that, as a species, the religious are more fit. Their communities are more structured, and have less crime and violence. Their families larger, more nuclear and more supportive of each other. Their members are more relaxed, and have more purpose to their lives.

Evolution would state that, eventually, only the religious will survive. If there is a God, He is laughing."

Nonetheless, I don't think that would help here - the society has passed critical mass of crime, the incentives are for everyone to be criminal, and religion itself would be subverted for its use.

[leephillips]

Religious communities may not be more fit. It depends on what measure you look at: http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.pdf

[mensetmanusman]

Fit from an evolutionary standpoint, i.e. (especially now) only the religious are having replacement levels of children.

[unnouinceput]

I like idealistic people. Please, never change.

Me, on the other hand, as a citizen of a very corrupt corrupt country in which the specter of communism still linger heavily, I wonder how many officials would either "malfunction" cameras when cartel members would be caught on video OR would actively help cartel members organize their kidnappings.

[linuxftw]

Happens in countries perceived to be less corrupt as well. Consider the 'missing' video of Jeffrey Epstein's suicide.

[rendall]

Jails and prisons are where American society throws people away. There aren't working video cameras, competent guards, effective suicide watches. That's not where Americans choose to place their attention

The argument that Jeffery Epstein was murdered hinges on jails and prisons to be something they are not

[stickfigure]

This is conspiracy theory nonsense. Consider what percentage of video cameras in public spaces function at all.

[lotsofpulp]

It’s 2020. Cheap, long lasting cameras are ubiquitous and easily available. A 40 year old CCTV camera in a subway station might be likely to not work, but I don’t see why that’s comparable to a camera for one of the highest profile prisoners in recent years. For $100, they could have even had 2 cameras for redundancy and no excuse.

[lazyasciiart]

Prisons are not much of a target for tech upgrades. Here’s a 2018 study from california on “what happens if we put surveillance cameras in the prison?” to give you an idea of the baseline. https://ucicorrections.seweb.uci.edu/files/2018/05/High-Dese...

[Aerroon]

Then someone needs to be held responsible for this. Somebody is in charge of all of that and should face the consequences of their failure to fulfill their duties.

[ilaksh]

I think the issue is structural. It's an economic situation primarily.